Rhonda Nixon (image credit - CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

SD73 CHANGES

SD73 provides insight into departure of Superintendent Rhonda Nixon

Jul 14, 2025 | 4:45 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops-Thompson School District has introduced their new interim superintendent and secretary treasurer as Mike McKay and Harold Cull.

Both men will work in their roles until the end of the calendar year, while assisting the district in the search for their full-time replacements.

The introduction on Monday (July 14) also provided a chance for details to be shared regarding the sudden departure of Superintendent Rhonda Nixon.

The public was informed of Nixon’s resignation on July 3, and the following Monday, the district announced McKay would be stepping into the role on an interim basis.

ONE MAN'S OPINION

COLLINS: The free-for-all in politics

11h ago

CFJC-TV

Kamloops born-and-raised Dylana Kneeshaw to succeed Bill O'Donovan as CFJC-TV lead anchor

Dec 13, 2025

TWO & OUT

PETERS: Boyle's supportive housing move is data-driven decision-making gone wrong

Dec 12, 2025

Board Chair Heather Grieve provided some background on the tight timeline with the board informed of Nixon’s departure on June 30.

“We did some reaching out throughout the province to different people and contacts and one person continued to come up regardless of who we spoke to and that was Mr. McKay,” said Grieve. “He was gracious enough to meet with us after Harold (Cull) reached out to him and we had a really positive conversation and are happy to move things forward.”

A recent survey of staff across the district showed low levels of satisfaction. Improving morale and wellbeing will be a focus for McKay, saying he has already reached out to the partner group presidents.

“We should be on the same path together,” said McKay. “And that is improving kids life chances by making sure that public education is well connected, well aligned and every child feels like they belong and can be successful. That is our story, that is why these places exist.”

Grieve was also asked directly if the resignation of Nixon resulted in any kind of severance being paid out by the district.

“I’m not actually able to again provide information that are related to HR matters,” responded Grieve. “There will be SOFI reports that come out that will all be publicly accessible. But again, we received her resignation, and again people may have their entitlements paid out when they resign, but that would all be under that human resources privacy.”

Statements of Financial Information or SOFI reports are generally made public in the spring.

Grieve was also asked about the board keeping the trust of the public that elected them.

“The unfortunate part of it sometimes is transparency is bound by confidentiality and privacy,” said Grieve. “So we don’t have the same ability that public members do to necessarily correct narratives or to even give a different perspective to a narrative. And in many ways I’m glad, because I don’t think it actually solves anything. I think we need to look at our student outcomes, we want to see those improvements about how our staff are feeling as they come to work everyday.”

CFJC Today will have more with the new superintendent on Tuesday (July 15), including his priorities for the district, and the process of finding a permanent superintendent before the end of the year.